Nathan Rice
A.M. Yealey Elementary
"Recycling, Reusing, and Reducing Plastic Bags "

Americans use over a billion plastic bags each year. Before we began recycling these plastic bags, many of them ended up in places they shouldn’t be, like streams, rivers and oceans. Over one–hundred thousand marine animals were harmed or killed by these plastic bags. Sea turtles eat them because they mistake them for their main source of food which is jellyfish.

Many retail stores have plastic bag recycling programs. Plastic bags that can be recycled include grocery bags, retail bags, plastic wrap, plastic newspaper bags, plastic dry cleaning bags, and paper towel and toilet paper plastic wrap. More and more Americans are becoming aware of the plastic bag collection programs that are available to them.

Recycling plastic bags is an important way to help preserve all our ecosystems. Many useful products are recycled from plastic bags including: Building and construction materials like composite lumber for fencing and decking or into products like new bags, containers, crates, or pallets. By continuing to recycle plastic bags, more will end up being used in useful ways instead of in our water sources.

Not only are plastic bags recycled, many are reused in a variety of ways. For example, as a wastebasket liner, storing items, making crafts, or reusing them at the grocery store. By reusing and recycling our plastic bags, we can eventually reduce the number of bags being made so they don’t end up in the wrong places.

For more information, please email Becky Haltermon at bhaltermon@boonecountyky.org.